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Mike Tyson’s showdown Friday with Jake Paul is reminiscent of the January 1988 night in Atlantic City when 21-year-old Iron Mike gave Larry Holmes, then 38, a shot at his IBF and WBC heavyweight title belts.
It was the old lion defending his honor one final time against the young bull.
Tyson was a -800 favorite in that bout, in which he won by brutal knockout in the second round.
Will we see a similar script Friday night in Arlington, Texas?
The betting public is really wagering its hard-earned money on the 58-year-old Tyson.
ESPN Bet told The Post that an unheard of amount of people are backing the boxing legend, with 91.8 percent of the bets (number of bets) on Tyson to win the fight.
After opening at +220, Tyson entered this week at +225, and has since moved dramatically down to +170 where he stands now. (Note, odds are available in New Jersey but no action will be taken by New York sportsbooks).
This is the perfect time to bet big on the favorite, who isn’t just the fighter Friday. Paul is the main event, promoter, rule setter and everything else in this fight.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson odds
| Fighter | Moneyline | Rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Jake Paul | –225 | Over 6 ½ rounds (-110) |
| Mike Tyson | +175 | Under 6 ½ rounds (-110) |
I have a lot of questions about this fight and how much power Paul and his team really have when the two opponents step into the ring.
Paul is putting on weight like crazy as he attempts to pair his size edge with the necessary mass that is needed to take a punch from Tyson.
Whether Paul can take a punch from Tyson is not truly the question to ask Friday. It’s whether Tyson, who is 58 years old and has deteriorating testosterone levels, can actually catch him running around the ring.
Re-watch Tyson’s exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr.
Tyson could barely shuffle around the ring against Jones, who is in his age group.
Now, in a professional bout, four years older, we’re expected to see Tyson turn back the clock, find a 27-year-old boxer’s chin, and win?
Paul knows that he just needs to stick and move through the first few rounds, and once Tyson begins to tire, it’ll be just a matter of time.
“Bettors want to see Paul get knocked out and love Tyson as an underdog. The book will be rooting for Paul to win,” Alex Rella, a BetMGM senior trader, told The Post.
We would all agree that Tyson’s coming back off the couch to win by knockout would be the sexier story.
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But let’s bet money with reality, not theory.
Tyson is certainly a natural-born killer, but he’s nearly 60 years old, and Paul, while having a loss on his record against amateur boxer Tommy Fury, should be able to win this fight on athleticism alone.
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,” Tyson used to say in his prime.
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That’s fine and good, but there is no plan for when your body simply doesn’t respond when you’re asking it to do things beyond its capability at this age.
Keep betting on Paul as the line moves toward Tyson; you’re getting fantastic value.
THE PLAY: Paul on 3-way moneyline (-165, BetMGM)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he’s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.